10 great kids parks in Arizona

by Gina Niemiec - Jun. 22, 2010 04:18 PMazcentral.com

There's plenty of choices in the Valley for kids looking for an adventure outside of the sandbox. These top parks include everything from mini railroads and amusement rides to pools, skate parks, batting cages and more.

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Freestone Park

This park is chock-full of activities, a skate park, basketball courts, sand volleyball, a miniature train and lakes aplenty. Pack up some burger fixings and use one of the many barbecue grills and ramadas.

Encanto has been around for decades, and is still tons of fun for the kids. Rent paddle boats, run around on the huge play structure, or head over to Enchanted Island, where kid-sized amusement rides and train rides are only a buck or two a pop. Year-long passes can be purchased to add to the savings.

This huge, 52-acre park has a skate park for the teens, a playground and "tot lot" for the younger crowd, a splash park for cooling off, and a string of lakes, volleyball courts and BBQ pavilions for the whole family.

Ride the train, take a spin on the carousel or play on two great playgrounds, one of which is covered to keep the sun's rays off of baby skin. Food is served from an old train car (hot dogs and chips), or grab an ice cream cone from the old general store. Take a tour through a 1920 Pullman train car - the kids will be fascinated.

There's 125 acres of land and 12 acres of lake, making this park a great spot. Fish, rent a boat, or just let the kids run wild through the grass. A large play area adds to the fun, and soccer and baseball fields are available if you have enough kids for a team. The park also includes batting cages, a recreation center with a gymnasium (for basketball, volleyball and dodgeball) and an indoor pool. | MAP

Take a ten-minute ride around the lush park on the kid-sized train, let the kids climb on the amazing adventure playground, catch and release some fish in the lakes, or just sit and listen to the waterfalls.

Ride the 1880's replica train, the mini ferris wheel, a "waveless" wave runner, or the carousel. When the kids are burned out on rides (as if that will happen), let them run around in the play area or grab lunch at the depot.

Let the kids get a little taste of the Old West in the replicas of a dry goods store, saloon, jail and hotel while riding around the park in a mini Santa Fe railroad car. Plus check out the antique carousel and spray pad. The lakes and playgrounds offer plenty of places for parents to sit back and relax. Plus check out the antique carousel and animal spray pad.

A small neighborhood park with large, shady trees, and a huge play structure for the kids. Nothing fancy, but Daley is a great place for a picnic, where kids can stay busy on the tire swings and climbing the carob trees while mom and dad relax. | MAP